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dodgercodger
Reviews
A League of Their Own (2022)
Disappointing would be beyond generous.
The connection with the wonderful Tom Hanks/Geena Davis/Rosie O'Donnel movie is tenuous at best. Just the title, and maybe one line of dialog (which doesn't show up until episode 6).
There is no connection between characters on screen, and nothing for the audience to find interesting/entertaining. The "acting" (well-deserving the quotation marks) is dull, dull, dull, and dull. No identifiable backstories, or whatever is posing as a backstory suddenly vanishes or flips in an obscure direction.
I could fill pages on the "errors" section; horrid baseball (I did just avoid adding quotation marks this time) playing, historic inaccuracies, and dialog pulled magically from 80 decades ahead of the setting.
Certainly, the racial and gender inequities of the times do have a place in this version, but the real true story of the AAGPBL must be the driving theme in this presentation.
Land Girls (2009)
Could have been so much better.
I started watching this based on my Anglophilia, the opening premise and my overall love of WWII home-front storylines.
While this does meet those criteria, the plot holes (large enough for a squadron of Lancs to cruise through in some places), historical inaccuracies (how hard is it to find a 48-star US flag??) and some incredible "Deus ex Machina" footwork left me wanting.
I managed to get through the entire series, though. Guess I've got some masochist tendencies as well...
Jupiter's Legacy (2021)
Only Three Episodes In
But the frequent time jumps is damn confusing. Who are these 1929 people and what is there relationship to the modern folks?
Did love the opening sequence with one of the young superheroes in an Underdog outfit. Maybe a little hint to his future?
I'll keep watching, but the clock is running...
For All Mankind: The Grey (2021)
Higher and Higher
What a journey! We start with an OK Corral battle at Jamestown, then a spit-and-polish commander goes secretly maverick, and another "screw the orders" spacecraft commander stops the sure nuclear Armageddon with the boldest of bold photo opts. (Yes, a wee bit of the 'deus ex machina' involved).
But something that really tickled me -- DUCT TAPE SPACE SUITS! Check out Andrew Mayne's "Station Breaker" series for a very similar miracle of modern adhesives adventure.
Final word -- those steps on Mars. Did you notice the color of the boots? Will the Red Planet be under the Reds? Will the new US-Soviet alliance make this truly arriving "For All Mankind"? Or will there be a new player in this cosmic chase? (A Taikonaut??) Can't wait.
For All Mankind: And Here's to You (2021)
Question
Perhaps I missed it -- but was there a translation of the Russian card at the end? Does it explain why they were there?
Darkest Hour (2017)
Wonderfully fascinating subject turned to mush.
I consider myself a knowledgeable "fan" of the history of the Second World War, as well as a self-described Anglophile. That being said, while I do feel that the historic aspects were well represented (giving allowance for the inevitable need for "dramatic licence"), and Oldman's performance of Churchill is spot-on, I found the experience plodding -- a remarkable achievement considering the main subject was perhaps the most dynamic orator of the 20th century and the time frame one of the most crucial months in the life of modern Europe.
Talking heads get tedious after a short time, and that is just what we get for the vast majority of the movie. Why not a little more of the experience of the people on the streets? Some scenes of the action in Calais or Dunkirk? It is a war movie with no war.
There was so much to work with, but the end product was simply mush.
A Christmas Story Live! (2017)
Pluses win Over Minuses
As a true aficionado of the original, I was at first disappointed and confused. I was on the verge of giving up during the first 45 min. Then, something started to grow on me. Sure, there were many elements that were not part of the original, but the essentials were there. True, the presence of Broderick on set was a stretch, but then, so is the notion of characters bursting out in song and dance every five minutes. (Am I the only one that thought he was an Alton Brown dopplganger?) I though, for the most part, the additional elements did add to the overall telling of the tale. (I was sorry that the Ovaline/Orphan Annie segment was lost).
More positives must be noted in the overall staging of the production -- moving seamlessly between sets, quick costume changes, etc. cannot be ignored. And as with any live performance, the occasional goofs (well, ones that the audience might pick-up on) lend an even stronger bit of entertainment. (I noticed the small clock falling off the cellar door and the "purkey/turkey" exchange). I'd also like to know the secret of the tongue-on-flagpole scene. His tongue really did seem firmly attached!
So, to my purist brethren -- enjoy the original. Everyone else -- sit back and relish in the journey.
NCIS: Naval Criminal Investigative Service: Ready or Not (2017)
There are some positives (granted, not many)
Yes, I agree with the previous posters and their justified issues with writing, plot holes, etc. However, I must say that the editing was excellent (in particular with all the coordinated screaming). We got a quick glance at the Abby mobile (no surprise as to her style, but I would have expected black). And while it does fall well into the plot hole area about proper procedure, Gibbs taking out the female accomplice was pure magic. Finally, I was hoping for the twins to be named Abby and Jethro -- but Morgan and John are most welcome. Hoping that things get better as we move to our Abby Farewell...
Spaceflight IC-1: An Adventure in Space (1965)
The Worst SF Ever?
I saw the title and brief description and thought this might be good. I could not have been more in error. Virtually nothing but talking heads, trying to be oh-so British while the non-existent plot labours forward. The alleged motivation for forming a new human colony on a distant planet fails to take into account that with a start-up population of four couples (along with three young boys and four unfortunates in suspended animation) there will be very little genetic variation in coming generations. There is a mutiny when the Captain (and we know this because he has his job title emblazoned on his chest, along with everyone else on the crew) forbids the other couples from "adding to their population". The aforementioned boys seem to be acting more like kids at a sleep-away camp than interplanetary explorers (even though they do have some kind of ESP powers). Their acting skills rank someplace south of a dead mouse. In the end, the Captain gets it by a berserk re-animate and our poor fish-bowl-headed cyborg just stands and rolls his eyes. 93 minutes that would have been better spent getting a tooth extracted.
Space Master X-7 (1958)
Just lucky I guess
Just happened to come across this "gem" on FOX Movie channel, expecting another 50s SciFi/Cold War blend. I missed the first few minutes (the bit with the ex-wife in the lab) but now (after reading the summary and other reviews) her panic makes sense.
Great surprise to see Moe Howard. I didn't see Paul Frees in the flesh (while he had it...), but did recognize his voice at Union Station. As an L.A. native, I'm always looking for scenes with 50s L.A. landmarks. (I didn't recognize the airport as the nascent LAX, though). The scene with Moe at the police station, using the plastic layovers to recreate the face was terrific, straight out of a DRAGNET-style episode.
Sure, by 2010 standards it's hokey. The Special Effects are weak, the storyline is lame, and the ending a bit too contrived. But there are hundreds of movies being shown on the dozens of movie channels that are much worse than this genuine diamond. Hopefully more of you will catch it next time 'round.
Christmas Is Here Again (2007)
It has it moments, just
I too found this movie via Redbox. As others have said, it certainly has its moments, but there are some major disappointments.
Some funny moments, granted. The kids seemed to enjoy it.
The ubiquitous happy-go-lucky elf giving his all. An overweight and flatulent Dasher trying to relive his glory days (nights?)
The songs -- DULL.DULL.DULL. (Did I mention DULL?) What's with the magical winter-active caterpillar? The Evil Stepmother taken to a new level -- a real Dickensian witch with Paris Hilton's chihuahua. NO Christmas for 30+ years? And the confusing link between Santa's Magic Sack and the Christ Child... over-the-top doesn't say enough.
Finally, IMHO, this would be a prime feature for a Christmas-themed MST3K...
G-Force (2009)
Worth my price of admission
After seeing another, excellent, movie, I decided to do a little illicit theatre hopping and moved over to see G-Force.
It was worth just what I paid to get in.
I would list the plot holes, inanities, and just plain stupid parts, but this review is limited to 1000 words...
However, some of the more memorable (sadly): Yes, the funniest scenes are in the trailer. Why do the G-Force team members still talk after their translators have been taken? What, another sighting of the evil FBI guy? Flatulence. Enough already. Super-secret lab in a warehouse -- where have I seen that before?
Unfortunately, I can't give anything lower than 1 star to this waste of time.